Low-Calorie Evening Snacks

Choose low-calorie snacks for evening or night-time snacking when trying to lose or maintain a healthy body weight.

If you're developed a long-time snacking habit, it can be difficult to eat nothing between supper one night and breakfast the next morning. But even if you are trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy size or eating plan, you can still indulge in a favorite treat as long as you don't overdo it. Here are a few low-calorie ideas.

1. Cut one ounce of low-fat cheese into one-inch wedges and serve on a single serving of low-fat crackers. Choose a wheat or grain variety of cracker to add fiber to your diet. The dairy aspect will help to relax you in preparation for the night of sleep that awaits, while crackers have just enough carbohydrates to be filling, as long as you don't overindulge.

2. Have eight ounces of low-fat or no-fat milk heated in the microwave in a pretty cup or attractive glass. Experts claim that serving your food in aesthetically-pleasing dishes can help to satisfy the inner cravings that are often associated with hunger. Sit down in a quiet place and enjoy a break from your busy world.

3. Arrange round banana slices on a plate. Drizzle a tablespoon of chocolate syrup over them. Top with a squirt of whipped cream. You will feel as pampered as though you were enjoying a sundae, but with a fraction of the calories.

4. Brew a cup of decaffeinated herbal tea. Many people believe that chamomile calms their minds and bodies, while others prefer the taste of fruit or herbs. Sweeten with a teaspoon of sugar or drink plain, since some brands taste sweet alone, depending on their flavor. You can also have a cup of a special flavor of commercial instant coffee, like the popular Swiss mocha kind, for about sixty calories, or a serving of commercial hot chocolate with mini-marshmallows for about 110 calories.

5. Cook a fourth of a cup of oatmeal and a half-cup of water in a steep bowl in the microwave to make a nourishing and tasty treat. Top with a few raisins, almond slivers, or apple slices, along with a spoon of brown sugar and a dash of low-fat milk. Or add about ten chocolate or peanut butter chips, the kind that are used for baking.

6. Open a container of low-fat commercially prepared gelatin dessert or low-fat pudding. Either is less than a hundred calories, and their moist texture can help to fill a rumbling tummy. Add a quarter cup of low-fat whipped topping for an extra treat.

7. Have a glass of ice water or drink it straight from the tap. Add a lemon or lime wedge. Studies show that people who claim to feel hungry and end up binging do so because they are often thirsty, at least in part. So drink up first before deciding whether you need to eat.

Whatever your penchant for snack foods, you can find something tasty to eat after dinner to prevent an all-out binge on forbidden items. Plan ahead so you'll have the necessary ingredients and try to time it so you'll remain full until bedtime, and thus prevent another attack of the so-called "hungries."